While the obvious goal is speed when running a relay. an equally critical component is the baton hand off. I never ran track competitively, speed was not really my thing, but I do recall practicing again and again receipt and surrender of the baton for fear of being that girl that caused the whole team to be disqualified by botching the transition.
As I evaluate my time in China, I recognized I am amidst more than one relay for the salvation of a soul. I feel honored and yet burdened as I spend my last minutes with a handful of different Chinese girls who have expressed varied interest in hearing the heart beat of my life.
I confess, I am wildly hopeful that one gal in particular will pray to accept Christ because her understanding of the Good News is simply amazing to me. But for the rest my realistic side kicks in and I have to acknowledge just how daunting the language barrier has been. I have mentioned it before but this whole month that barrier has been a blessing and a curse.
A curse because there is so much I want to tell these women. My time in China has forced me to own the fact that I have, for a long time, walked the road of knowing the Good News but not placing myself in a space where I had to give an answer for the hope that I have. In fact, I would venture to say my strategy was somewhat passive and based in the hope that others would ask me what made my life different instead of venturing out and actually initiating a conversation. Passivity has not been an option here. We have a precious few days to communicate what was really accomplished 2011 years ago; time is of the essence.
The blessing has been threefold:
First, as I mentioned in my last post, I am continually in awe of the gift of the incarnation of Christ. Again and again I find myself thankful that my Creator saw fit to erase any chance of His most important work being lost in translation. Rather he entered into my story and made sure I heard the news first hand – awesome.
Second, I value how the language barrier has humbled me. I admit, I have caught myself being so arrogant as to think I am it for these girls. That it is my job and my job alone to communicate the Truth claim of the Bible and to answer ALL their questions. I have had to concede to the repeat and gentle reminder that salvation work is work of the Holy Spirit. I am given the opportunity to be a messenger of the Good News and to give testament to the transformational impact of choosing to receive Christ work on the cross but that is it. The actual process of enlightening the mind and heart is Divine and wholly outside my influence.
Finally, there is the passing of the baton. I was once given the wise counsel to not be the weak link in someones chain to salvation. It is this imagery of a chain that blesses me here. It has been an honor to invite Chinese Christian into the process of sharing the Good News with the students I've met. Not only do they bridge the language gap but they bridge countless cultural gaps and they will be here to run the next leg. They will be the next link in the chain and continue the relationship in my absence. As I run into the transition alley I have confidence in two things: 1) I have been faithful to my link and I can see where God has used my feeble efforts to start to secure the salvation of His beloved Chinese children and 2) I have great confidence in the runners I am passing the baton off too. The hearts of the Chinese believers I have met here are so dear. I have every confidence they will be faithful, strong and steady link.
